Acute Dialysis - CRRT : Role of Critical Care Nurses or Renal Nurses?

Specialties MICU

Published

I guess the trend nowadays is that CVVH or any other CRRT is being taken care of by ICU nurses. Depending on facility, some Renal nurses are wholly responsible for most renal/dialysis cases.

What do you all critical care nurses think of this?

Specializes in SICU,BURNS,ACUTE DIALYSIS.

I did SICU for 3-4 yrs and currently doing Acute hemodialysis. So I have thought about this more than once from both departments perspective. Let me just say to start that I feel CVVHD should be done by the ICU RN. Let me explain why I came to this conclusion.

1. Many acute HD units do not operate 24 hrs a day.......so if a patient clotted off on prisma.....a nurse would be required to drive in set uip a new one then drive back home. the result...more dollars being spent on staff and the patient would recieve less time cleaning and remiving fluid.

2nd.I loved doing prisma and I think ICU nurses enjoy it to....Why would you want to lose a skill.

3.Cvvhd is a 1-1 ratio as well. by havng the hd nusre and the icu nurse present cost just

4. lastbutnot least...Hd nurses day change conrly

Specializes in SICU,BURNS,ACUTE DIALYSIS.
i was a critical care nurse, then did a stent in dialysis, left and back to critical care. let's just say there was a BIG difference between those of us with critcal care experience and those that were stickly renal......being able to understand the entire picture allowed those of us with critical care experience led to a far better treatment which ultimately made the ICU nurse's job just a bit easier! :wink2:

I couldn't agree more......Well said.

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